This episode really ramps things up a notch, and the last lines are sigh worthy. I love this pairing.

I have been in heaven, working through the The KrThis episode really ramps things up a notch, and the last lines are sigh worthy. I love this pairing.

I have been in heaven, working through the The Kraken King serials, and I have to say though that even with the week between parts, I wouldn't want to wait for the all in one volume instead - some of my favorite authors have been training me to like serials so I am in the right frame of mind for The Kraken King. The wait isn't as hard as I thought it would be, and it is always exciting to get a new installment, and it's nice not to wait a whole year for *more*.

In the Kraken King so far, there is a good touch of adventure, a bit of humor, and the detailed world building that made me a fan of the Iron Seas in the first place and which makes these new stories so entertaining. But the leads are really what seal the deal for me. Zenobia and Ariq (the Kraken King) are both such great developed characters and the way their relationship is unfolding - despite a few stumbles - is really really good. *happy sigh*

With only four more episodes to go, part four ends the first half solidly but with promises of a wild and steamy ride to come.

(I got an early peek at this, but I also purchased a copy of my very own for my 'keeper shelf' - the gorgeous covers look very nice there by the way:)...more

The Undead Pool (Hollows) was really really good (5 stars for me, I am on a roll.) I am almost afraid for the last book, I could almost just leave thiThe Undead Pool (Hollows) was really really good (5 stars for me, I am on a roll.) I am almost afraid for the last book, I could almost just leave things the way they are in the this one and be happy. Great action (of all varieties;) and a much better Rachel - finally. ...more

Modern day Turkey, with its rich history and exotic flavor, makes for a fabulous setting for the long lived Irin race who provide the 'paranormal' forModern day Turkey, with its rich history and exotic flavor, makes for a fabulous setting for the long lived Irin race who provide the 'paranormal' for the paranormal aspect of this paranormal romance.

There are so many things that I loved about the story which follows travel photographer Ava - who has feared for her sanity due to the 'voices' she's always heard - as she discovers the existence of the Irin and the reason for her brand of 'insanity'. The mythos surrounding the Irin is as rich as the setting and the reveal of their history has a real emotional impact, but what really makes this story live are the people who inhabit the world of the Scribe.

I really liked both Ava, who was strong and intelligent in spite of her affliction, and her 'bodyguard' Malachi, who was the perfect combination of powerful and vulnerable and controlled and passionate. The romance between Ava and Malachi is wonderful, it unfolded slowly allowing me to fall in love along with Ava and Malachi as they fell in love with each other. When the pair finally come together physically it is all about the passion and emotions of their connection, making those love scenes explosive without using a ton of explicit language.

The Scribe gets a full five stars me because I had a hard time leaving the world and the characters behind - even several days later I was still rereading some the scenes surrounding the more powerful emotional moments of the story. Now I am anxiously awaiting, The Singer, the next book of the trilogy since the ending to the Scribe left me with lots of questions unanswered. I can't wait to see where Ava goes from here and I am crossing my fingers that we will start getting some of the answers to the mysteries surrounding her.

ARC courtesy of the author, this is an unpaid review and my opinions are my own....more

4.5 stars = I really really liked it:) Back in Atlanta, after having survived an encounter with her father’s second in command, Kate knows that now sh4.5 stars = I really really liked it:) Back in Atlanta, after having survived an encounter with her father’s second in command, Kate knows that now she’s on Roland’s radar and is just waiting for the other shoe to drop when one of the leaders of the People is murdered and evidence points to a shape shifter as the killer.

A few months back I listened to a book chat with Gordon and Ilona in which they said that everything cool was happening in this book. It's true, lots of cool things happen – and wow, just wow, the moment we’ve all been waiting for is one of them. The whole series has been leading up to Kate's encounter with Roland, and with all that mass of expectations their first meeting could have been anticlimactic - It wasn't, at all. Thousands of years old, Roland is powerful to the nth degree and considering his desire to kill Kate while she was in the womb, his plans for their 'relationship' now are intriguing. He's an interesting player who I am assuming, takes center stage in the next Kate trilogy.

Other things I loved about the story? Desandra. Who would've thought that lewd crude vapid creature could be so shrewd and powerful, she made a great addition to Kate’s crew. I also really liked rat alpha Robert, and it was interesting to get some insight into Ghastek. But above all I love Kate. I love that she is the complete package, we see her match wits with the scheming Hugh and survive several members of her family and this time around Kate gets to stuff all of her stuff – and I mean all – and shine while doing it. Kate is really is the complete package and that is the major part of why I love this series so much.

The other part of why I love the series is Curran – he really comes through for Kate in the end and it just made me love him more. I was really happy to see that all of the angst that we suffered through last book – the one that lead to the ‘conversation’ between Kate and Curran - has an impact here, they both know the other’s un-crossable lines and that makes a difference in the outcome.

Since this is book seven of the series, there is a summary of what has gone before at the start of the book – which I skimmed – that should be helpful to bring new readers up to speed. But personally, this series is worth starting at the beginning, even though reading six books to get here may sound daunting.

I was lucky enough to have received complementary copy from the authors for review, but Magic Breaks was sooo good that it qualifies for a rare reread when it hits the shelves July 29th, this time in audio so I can savor every moment....more

I did my third 'read' of this in audio. Renee Raudman, who is the reader for all of the Andrews' book does a great job as usual of bringing the storyI did my third 'read' of this in audio. Renee Raudman, who is the reader for all of the Andrews' book does a great job as usual of bringing the story to life. The Costco scene was especially great. My only hitch was that her performance of Sean didn't quite fit what I had in my head From my previous two passes through the story. Still the story is just add great as it was when I was haunting the authors' blog for every new installment.

From my second read of Clean Sweep...

It was tortuously fun reading Clean Sweep in its originally serial form on the authors' blog - it was hard to wait for the next episode but a great little treat every time a new chapter would post - but this story was every bit as enjoyable in its new 'instant gratification' format.

One of the things that made Clean Sweep so good (and it's why pretty much all of the Andrews' stories are among my top favorites) is that the characters and the world building are so well done. I loved the 'Inkeeper' Dina (and her magic broom), there is such a normality to this character who steps in to do the 'right' thing when trouble from another dimension puts her neighbors in peril - even though she has to bend the rules a bit to do it. Also great are the Inn's sole scary guest , Dina's werewolf SEAL veteran neighbor, and a honor bound vampire Knight who all have origins that are out of this world.

This version of Clean Sweep also has some lovely illustrations (I am going to have to pull out my tablet to look at them in color) and a new epilog which adds a nice final note to the story - while still leaving things open for the sequel which is supposedly coming in early 2014 (hopefully as a serial again.)

(I received a review copy of this from the authors but also purchased additional copy for my keeper shelf)...more

Please forgive me while I rave about Kiss of Steel - what a great melding of steampunk and paranormal romance. I have become enamored with steampunk rPlease forgive me while I rave about Kiss of Steel - what a great melding of steampunk and paranormal romance. I have become enamored with steampunk romance recently, but there aren't many books in the genre where the steampunk trappings are integral to the story. Kiss of Steel is one of the rare ones where the steampunk elements are woven into the fabric of the background instead of relying on 'hey, there's an airship' decorating the story in order to steampunk-ize it. And I thought that the alternate London with its literal twist on bloodthirsty Bluebloods - a twist to European history that also gave a new significance to the use of guillotines in the French revolution - was clever and I also liked that the Whitechapel setting provided a suitably gritty backdrop for our down and out and desperate heroine, Honor.

On the romance front, I loved the complicated hero, Blade, a gutter born Blueblood - who fights his blood hunger and darker nature around Honor. And while, being exceedingly hero-centric, it is easy for me to love the leading man, I also really liked Honor too. I liked that she is smart and stubborn and that Honor's determination to protect those she loves doesn't make her seem 'too stupid to live' even when she insists on heading into dangerous territory. And I liked that she eventually trusts Blade to go wild with her, but that it takes some time for her to learn that trust which makes for a nice build up to some pretty steamy intensity in their romance.

So great steampunk/paranormal world, great leads and a satisfyingly steamy romance. I loved Kiss of Steel and I am really looking forward to the next book, Kiss of Iron - the next up dangerous leading man is confused and definitely in need of some therapeutic loving. ...more

4.5 stars. Action that kicks in on the first page and rarely lets the reader take a breather, a great twisty plot in the background, some major delvin4.5 stars. Action that kicks in on the first page and rarely lets the reader take a breather, a great twisty plot in the background, some major delving into the histories/personalities of the most interesting players in the series including Dory, some nice smexy moments (sigh), and a change for Dory which looks to take the series in a direction that I just can't predict. Just a tick off for a few long italicized flashblacks at the start, but after that Fury's Kiss was so good that I don't know how to write a review that does it justice. Loved this book....more

4.5 stars - When a magical object is stolen from the Nicolai Clanhome it looks like the Lupi have a traitor in their midst, and the fallout from the h4.5 stars - When a magical object is stolen from the Nicolai Clanhome it looks like the Lupi have a traitor in their midst, and the fallout from the hunt for the traitor and the revelation of the identity of the thief both have some personal repercussions for Rule. And as Rule stuggles with those issues, he and Lily attempt to unravel all of the plots and plans surrounding the object's whereabouts in order to recover it before it falls in the hands of an old enemy.

I absolutely love this series and the start of the book is really really good because it highlights all the reasons for my fan-girl love: there are such wonderful nuances to the Lupi world, and so many of the characters are insightful and intelligent. Mortal Ties has many great moments where those insights and that intelligence is put to use, and Isen's manipulations in the hunt for the conspirators and Lily's part in the search for the missing item – including an interesting 'interview' with one of the players in the actual game which precipitated the theft - are just a few. I also really liked watching Rule sort out his feelings about a change in his role as Leidolf Rho and attempting to deal with his emotions when a long held secret associated with thief's identity opens an old wound.

Always a big plus in a series with a large continuing cast, it was fun to see more of some old favorite characters – though some have just short cameos – I am greedy for as much Cullen, Cynna, Isen, and Madame Lu as I can get. (Sam, Benedict, Arjenie and Ruben are offscreen though, sniff.) And I thought that the new characters introduced in the story – Jasper, Tony and Alycithin all added some wonderful elements to the story too. But above all, I love Rule and Lily together – I don't think that I will ever get enough of them.

The last part of the book, when all of the elements of the plot start unfolding and all of the players start making their moves against Rule and Lily, is good too, and as events built up to the big finish, I was so worried that Wilks was going to leave us with a cliff-hanger ending that I sneaked a peek at the final scene to prepare myself for that eventuality. In case you are wondering, the events from this story do come to a resolution before the end of the book, which is good in some ways but the way things wrapped up - and as much as I enjoyed Mortal Ties - I am not sure what this book actually 'added' to the forward motion of the series arc itself. But then again I was confused about the final fate of the object that caused the entire mess, so it maybe that is the piece that will stir things up in the next book or maybe some changes in Rule will cause some shake-ups in Nicolai.

Either way, I can't wait to find out what happens next when the story continues in 2013 with Ritual Magic and even though I am not sure where Wilks will take us in the next book, I hope that there are still a few more books left to go in the series before the final confrontation between the Lupi's mortal enemy who is not named and the Lupi's Lady goddess, because I am going to be sad when this series is finally done.

World of the Lupi:]

And the short story that started it all (it was reworked into Tempting Danger):...more

4.5 stars - There is reason that Singh is one of may favorite authors, her Guild Hunter world is vividly framed but it is all of the small details tha4.5 stars - There is reason that Singh is one of may favorite authors, her Guild Hunter world is vividly framed but it is all of the small details that make me believe in that world of powerful, dangerous - and not always sane - winged beings and in Singh's characters who are so well drawn that they have a depth that makes them 'live'.

The story, as are the leads and the romance, in Archangel's Storm is more nuanced and subtle than some of the other Guild Hunter stories but I really enjoyed it. There is a great deal of relationship development between the two angelic leads: the highly observant and very emotionally closed off spymaster, Jason - who suffered severe emotional trauma as a child - and the also watchful Mahiya - archangel Neha's adopted daughter - who is both punished and the punishment for the betrayal by her father that led to her birth. Also very interesting is the background hunt for a murderer - which is the reason that one of Raphael's Seven is allowed access to an 'enemy' archangel's court. I liked that Singh gave enough clues to the mystery to allow the reader to figure out identity of the killer along with Jason and Mahiya.

Following this series since the beginning, I appreciated the chance to touch up with a fair number of the supporting cast that Singh has brought to life of the course of five books and several short stories. In addition to Elena and Raphael, there is just a bit of Venon here, a touch of Aodhan, a brief glimpse of Illium, and an enticing reference to Ashwini and Janvier - I am waiting for another short that finally gives them their HEA. Also given a more significant portion of page time in Archangel's Storm are past starring pair Honor and Dmitri who get an epilog to their HEA.

While in some ways it was nice to see a bit more of Honor and Dmitri - especially since there is a brief conversation that makes it clear that while Honor carries Dmitri's past wife Ingrede's soul, Honor is not Ingrede and Dmitri is in love with Honor as she is now and not just the shade of his dead wife - I thought that their side story was a distraction and I didn't feel that it really had a purpose in 'this' story. If I were to reread Archangel's Storm, I would skip their parts with the exception of the wedding at the beginning.

From a series arc perspective, Archangel's Storm gives hints of interesting things to come with a change in the archangels themselves, and I am very much looking forward to the next book which heads back to NYC and puts Elena and Raphael back in the lead (no title yet, but due out 9/2013.) ...more

Review to come, but I just finished Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties) and I really loved it, the reason I loved this book so much is that the bad boy assReview to come, but I just finished Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties) and I really loved it, the reason I loved this book so much is that the bad boy assassin/thief (cat-shifting vamp) leading man - who actually tried to kill the leading lady of the first book - goes good. Well not truly good but he is definitely better with his heroine, who I also liked - she's a fish out of water but still has some warrior skills and I love the way that she doesn't judge him, and sees beyond the chaff that he throws up to hide all of his baggage, and I love the way that her acceptance allows her to worm her way into his heart without him even noticing. And icing on the cake for me? He purrs - I am a sucker for a guy that purrs.

I don't see Dark Dynasties this series mentioned often, even though it's on its third book, but I am a fan despite the fact that I am not that into vampires. The vampire world that author Kendra Leigh Castle has created is very interesting though with many different dynastic clans of vampires all with different origins and different powers - and there is also a class system with some vampires being considered 'less' because of those origins and her world also has true wolf-shifters as well. ...more

Tangle of Need is exactly what it needs to be for a series that is on it's 11th book.

Tangle of Need is so much more than the romance between Adria anTangle of Need is exactly what it needs to be for a series that is on it's 11th book.

Tangle of Need is so much more than the romance between Adria and Riaz, two strong but emotionally broken Changelings, even that romance and how they had to deal with the fact that Adria was not Riaz's actually mate worked for me. That 'more' includes a significant hunk of the book going to Sienna and Hawke, giving us a look into their mated life and showing them solidified as a pair - and showing Sienna working to develop herself into the alpha female that Hawke and the pack need - this was wonderful and kept me smiling, it was everything that their courtship wasn't in the previous book.

Additionally, there is a great deal going on in the Psy-Changling world with some new alliances and some significant plots that look to change the face of the Psy-Human-Changling world in dramtic ways. I also liked that Singh continues adding to her world with a new set of shifters, lone and maternal wolves, and A-Psys. And finally, taking advantage of all that Singh has been building over the course of the series, many of my favorites from her past starring pairs and supporting cast have parts to play here - I loved seeing Riley and Mercy, Judd, Indigo, Kaleb, Sascha, Faith, and the two Arrows, Aden and Valsic.

So Tangle of Need was a great installment which continues to set up for the big finish of Singh's main story arc and it was also a reward for those of us who have come to love the characters we've gotten to know over the course of the series. I am so impressed that over eleven books Singh has managed to grow the series into 'more' than it started out to be in Slave to Sensation and has avoided falling into the 'old formula trap' that might have turned Tangle of Need into a chore instead of a treat....more

4.5 stars - Life has changed forever for PI Nikki Glass since she discovered that she's a descendant of the goddess Artemis and gained her immortality4.5 stars - Life has changed forever for PI Nikki Glass since she discovered that she's a descendant of the goddess Artemis and gained her immortality, but even though she's aligned herself with the 'good' descendants who include a death goddess descendant who recently wanted her dead, an Eros descendant who can wield sex as a weapon, and a Loki descendant who's a pain in the tail, Nikki's still not feeling like part of the team - and if the team leader's wife has her way, Nikki's not going to be around for long. But Nikki's skills as a huntress are still a hot commodity and they are going to be sorely needed to hunt down a serial killer who may likely be more than human.

I really really like Deadly Descendants - this series is a new favorite of mine. I like this world where the characters have 'super' powers since they are descendants from the gods (of various mythologies), and this time Nikki's relationship with one of the other descendants is getting really interesting. And the background plot is really good too, though I must say that there are some definite downsides to immortality. Anyway, the plot is so good that I gobbled down Deadly Descendant and went looking to see if there would be more (since at the time that the last book was published Black only had a contract for these first two). So I was really ecstatic to find that there will be two more books and a novella coming in this series - hurray!...more

Second read July 2014...I am not much of a re-reader, but my plans to savor this in audio fell prey to my greed - I was just going to read a few pagesSecond read July 2014...I am not much of a re-reader, but my plans to savor this in audio fell prey to my greed - I was just going to read a few pages on my Kindle and before I knew it I'd gobbled the whole thing down. This may be my favorite Elder Races book. Oh well, maybe the third time will be the charm...

Review from first read March 2012 ...

Ancient and powerful Djinn prince Khalil has given his vow to protect the children in the care of the newly minted Oracle Grace and with all sorts of trouble stirring and the Oracle's Moon looming, Grace is going to need all the help she can get, and it might not be so bad to have a scary arrogant Djinn in her corner.

There are so many things that I loved about this book. I loved the hero Khalil, who has had brief appearances in the last two books. Khalil is a really different kind of leading man, and even though he has a physical aspect for interacting with other races, in the beginning he was just so alien that I was really wondering how a relationship between a human and a being that was not exactly corporeal was going to work. And really did love Grace, and how she continues to surprise the ancient powerful being. And I liked her trying to balance wrestling with the supernatural with the struggles of the mundane daily life of being a single parent.

Sometimes in paranormal romances I just don't get why an ancient immortal would be interested in a 20 something mortal but in Oracle's Moon Harrison does such a good job of developing Grace, the strength of her personality, and her own budding powers, that Khalil's fascination for her totally worked for me. And I just really liked the way that the connection is built gradually between Grace and Khalil, from their initially truce born out of their mutual concern for the children's safety, to the key moment marking the change in their relationship that brought tears to my eyes, and beyond. But wow, can't even express how amazing the first love scene between Grace and Khalil was. Since Khalil is so different from a bound in flesh being, it was intense, all encompassing, shattering and emotional. Just wow.

But as amazing as that was, what I loved most of all was that when all is said and done, Khalil who started out so jaded and superior comes to appreciate that though humans are just fireflies in comparison to the Djinn's longevity humans, burn brightly and feel intensely since each of their moments count and that he plans on on treasuring every of those precious moments with Grace. And the icing on the cake for me was that it felt like Grace managed to acquire enough power to balance out their relationship judging by how she gets the upper hand with Khalil's uber powerful father.

So, I loved Oracle's Moon and Grace and Khalil and it looks like Harrison has finally set some things in motion in the background of her series - there hadn't been a noticable series arc before - and I can't wait for Lords Fall....more

I am going have a hard time explaining why I enjoyed Hidden Fire so much. As a romance it is mild and up front - and without being too spoilerish - II am going have a hard time explaining why I enjoyed Hidden Fire so much. As a romance it is mild and up front - and without being too spoilerish - I have to say that while the ending is hopeful, Hidden Fire is just the first episode and the story continues in This Same Earth, just so that no one expects all the elements of the story to wrap up in a single book.

I really enjoyed the slowly building relationship between the gorgeous and unusual book scholar Giovanni Vecchio and library student intern Beatrice De Nova. The way that the mysteries surrounding the leading man Gio unfold is really interesting and Beatrice is a really good and intelligent heroine who is written in such a way that you can see why she caught Gio's interest even though she is way younger than him - she really seemed special enough to actually warrant the interest she stirred up. And in fact all of Hunter's characters are good, I liked Beatrice's grandmother, and Gio's friends Carwyn and Castor who are nice counterpoints to the enigmatic and serious Gio. And I also really enjoyed that there was a nice sprinkling of humor throughout - the leads and the supporting characters all had some great lines.

So this is where I need to add a big thank you to all my book friends for turning me on to Hunter's Elemental Mysteries, it is always a delight to find a really good character driven diamond in the rough of the self published world (and the next one This Same Earth was almost as good, plus there's still two more to go with the third book The Force of Wind out the first week of March 2012 and the fourth book slated for June 2012.)

As a note of advice, I would avoid reading the teaser for the next book, This Same Earth, (which is included after the end) too soon after finishing A Hidden Fire. Teasers are not always your friend and this one made me hesitant to pick up the next book, even though I had been okay with the ending of A Hidden Fire until reading the teaser. But having overcome my worry that the next one couldn't possibly be as good (expectations are my bane) and having already read This Same Earth, I really think that the scene is better read in the context of that book which actually has a prolog to prepare you for this part, so do yourself a favor and wait. ...more

Firelight starts out strong, finishes strong and what comes between is every bit as good, it immediately captured me and never let go.

The relationshipFirelight starts out strong, finishes strong and what comes between is every bit as good, it immediately captured me and never let go.

The relationship between the dread Lord Archer who hides his visage behind a Carnival mask, and Miranda Ellis, who has her own dark secrets, unfolds against a back plot of a secret society that holds the key to the reason that Archer wears the mask and a killer who is savagely murdering its members. I am not going to say too much about the story to avoid spoiling the journey, but I was intrigued by the darkness tinged with vulnerability that Archer hides behind his mask. I found myself enthralled by the slowly building relationship that developed between him and Miranda,who is a wonderful smart capable character, as they slowly begin to reveal themselves to the other. I loved the way that Archer allows Miranda to see more and more of him as their relationship develops, and was tantalized by each glimpse until I was truly dying to know what was behind the mask. I have to admit though that as the story went on I began to worry, because with such a tremendous build-up to the big reveal, how could it be anything but anti-climatic? It wasn't.

Firelight came highly recommended, and lived up to all of the rave reviews it'b been garnering. And with the great relationship and sensual tension building wrapped up in a Victorian era Gothic mystery - sans the TSTL heroine - topped off with a dollop of the paranormal, I'll be recommending this wonderful debut effort to all of my friends too.

(Kallihan's Darkest London continues with Moonglow in August 2012 with a new leading pair (and in Winterblaze in 2013). Some more bits of Archer's and Miranda's individual back stories are available now in Ember - Do not read Ember first, it is sort of like deleted scenes for the Archer and Miranda's back stories so you won't get a good feel for Callihan's writing but more importantly there are enough hints in the prequel to spoil the mystery surrounding Archer....more

I enjoyed this every bit as much in audio the second time around - I love Kalder and he and Audrey are so good together.

From first read in 2012 - RevI enjoyed this every bit as much in audio the second time around - I love Kalder and he and Audrey are so good together.

From first read in 2012 - Review to come but this was definitely a winner, I am going through a reviewing slump right now but great book, lot's of action, just the right amount of steaminess and I loved Kaldar and Audrey - what a wonderful pairing, their life will always be interesting. I wasn't thrilled with George and Jack at the beginning - especially when they were in the hoighty toighty magic land (I'll look up the name later)but they ended up surprising me. Wish I could get my hubby or teens to read this one, so I could gush about it some more verbally....more

The early release from prison of the man who murdered Eddie's sister, dredges up the past and shatters the control that Eddie has worked so hard to acThe early release from prison of the man who murdered Eddie's sister, dredges up the past and shatters the control that Eddie has worked so hard to achieve, the control that keeps his power of fire from being a danger to others. Even in his volitile state he embarks on his next mission for Dirk & Steele, searching for a missing shapeshifter, Lyssa, who is hunted by the one of the most dangerous and fear inspiring predators in the paranormal world. When Eddie finds Lyssa, he finds a woman who has spent years in hiding, a woman with a soul as damaged as his, and the woman who stirs all of his protective instincts - the one women with whom he can go up in flames.

Though the background story does have dark moments, Within the Flames is a gentle romance that grows amidst the danger, as Lyssa is hunted and those she has reluctantly come to care for are put in danger. Eddie who has appeared, and grown up, throughout the series is a quiet, protective and yet still wonderful leading man. And in Eddie and Lyssa, author Liu has created two haunted people who are just so completely perfect for each other. In addition to the instant connection between the pair, Eddie and Lyssa, both have suffered unspeakable things at the hand of monsters (both supernatural and human), and both understand living just to survive in the aftermath, and when all is said and done, they both have experiences in which they 'see' what the other has suffered so that they are able to help each other to finally start to heal.

Even though Within the Flames can be read as a standalone, for those who have followed Dirk and Steele, there is an interesting little revelation about Eddie and there are cameos from other characters from earlier books, including a decent little subplot for past leads gargoyle Lannes and his witchy wife Lethe. (Missing though are Koni and Ricktor - I am still waiting for their books.)

So with love amidst danger and fire, Within the Flames was a great Dirk & Steele addition that has me wishing that it wasn't so long between books. ...more

Master of Crows was wonderful. If I hadn't gotten a rec from a Goodreads friend (Thanks Heather.), I'd have probably been a bit skeptical going into tMaster of Crows was wonderful. If I hadn't gotten a rec from a Goodreads friend (Thanks Heather.), I'd have probably been a bit skeptical going into the book, because the reviews I'd seen had been so overwhelmingly positive - well now you can add me to the 'gushers'.

Having caught the eye of a corrupt god, a god who intends to use the Crow Mage Silhara as the vessel for his latest incarnation, the outcast mage is desperately trying to resist the god's powerful lure. But the god is seductive and Silhara is running out of time and will power - his only hope is to find a way to kill a god. Choosing the lesser of evils, Silhara petitions the Conclave for a scholar with expertise in archaic languages to help him dig through ancient texts for spell. Having no love for Silhara, the Conclave leader Cumbria, sees Silhara's request as the perfect opportunity to install a spy in Silhara's house. So Cumbria's 'ward' Martise - a slave promised her freedom in exchange for information leading to Silhara's downfall - is sent to 'aid' Silhara, and in exchanger for Conclave's assistance Silhara will help Martise to discover her hidden magic. As the pair slowly overcome their distrust and come to admire each other, both Martise and Silhara will have to decide whether their own freedom is worth the price of the other's life.

I am really character-centric in my reading and I loved both Martise and Silhara. Author Draven really took the time to flesh out her cast - even her supporting characters are well drawn. So for me it was a big plus that instead of being action driven, Master of Crows was character driven. The interractions between Martise and Silharea were deftly crafted with 'key' moments that moved their relationship along throughout the story, even as they both fought not to 'go' there. And since the pair started out pretty much as adversaries who needed the other for their own salvation, they both had really good reasons for not wanting to want each other. As a result, their mutual admiration and later their romance built slowly before finally progressing to the physical and capping off with a nice amount of steam. As a magic/fantasy romance, Master of Crows is not erotic by Paranormal Romance standards - but probably falls into that category by Fantasy standards.

So the bottom line is that I really enjoyed Master of Crows, it was a pleasant surprise and with an ending and a happily ever after that feel very finished, Martise and Silhara's tale looks to be a standalone story. Though not available on Kindle yet, Draven does have several other standalone looking ebooks out there and I plan to find out whether they are just as good as Master of Crows....more

4.5 stars - Having traded an unspecified favor for his friend life, gryphon Rune is called to San Francisco to pay off his debt, and discovers that va4.5 stars - Having traded an unspecified favor for his friend life, gryphon Rune is called to San Francisco to pay off his debt, and discovers that vampire Carling is fading. Finding himself increasingly intrigued by the dying ancient, Rule is determined to help her find a cure. And while the mysteries of time may hold the answer, time is also the enemy, and Rune and Carling must solve the riddle of the Serpent's Kiss before time runs out.

I liked Serpent's Kiss every bit as much, if not more than the first Elder Races book Dragon Bound. The only place where I think Dragon Bound had this one beat is that I liked the straight into fire (from the frying pan:) beginning of the first book the better. Here the first chapter sort of regurgitates the world building and the key events of Storm's Heart. This is probably good for new to the series readers, but not so much for those who have read the previous book.

Really though this was just a small nit, since there was so much that I loved about this book. I was worried by the icy Carling after having met her in the last book but was happy to find that this Carling was incredibly interesting and I absolutely loved the evolution of Carling as she reconnects with her emotions and loved getting to see her background and how Rune was enchanted with all of her aspects. I also love everything that Carling being Python's 'child' and Rune being a creature of the 'between' brought to the story (trying to be non-spoilerish). And I liked the way that their relationship built slowly, and I really like the matings in Harrison's series in that they are a combination of attraction and choice - instead of a fated slam dunk.

But most of all I loved Rune, with his tenderness, ferocity, and sense of humor – he is my favorite kind of hero, probably since there aren't that many of them in PNR. (Singh's Drew from Play of Passion and Nora Robert's Larkin from Dance of the Gods are the only two who are at all similar and come to mind right off the top of my head.)

So I loved Serpent's Kiss, thus far Harrison can do no wrong, and I can hardly wait for the next book Oracle Moon. Djinn Khalil who had a bit part in Storm's Heart is fleshed out a bit here and will be the leading man in Harrison's next book and, since his heroine will be the Oracle Grace, aka the "impudent disrespectful child ... Who doesn’t' know the value of what she has been offered." Khalil has his work cut out for him and I perversely love to see an alpha male have to work for his HEA....more

Assassin Meli, is given the chance to even the score when the man who caused her to be ostracized from Kinsmen society is presented to her as her finaAssassin Meli, is given the chance to even the score when the man who caused her to be ostracized from Kinsmen society is presented to her as her final target before she retires.

I very rarely reread, since there's always something new and shiny calling my name, but after reading - the new and shiny - Silver Shark which has a brief cameo with the leads here, I was inspired to do a reread. (Even though it meant repurchasing the story, since my old version is DRM'd to a computer I no longer own). Still it was well worth the price, because even on the second read I liked this short so much that I read pieces of it over several times – the end result being that I actually probably read the whole story two more times in this one sitting.

My favorite part of the Silver Blade is the big 'reveal' and I have to say hurray to the heroine for not caving, but instead making the hero do some serious groveling and for making him live through the aftermath. Ultimately, the “revenge served hot” makes for a sweeter eventual happily ever after.

The Ilona Andrews author duo, again amazed me with their great world building, and with their amazing characters – both the smart Meli, who uses her knowledge of Celino to get him right where she wants him, and the dangerous imperious Celino, who becomes more than he was as a result of his experience with Meli.

So good stuff, and even if you balk at the thought of reading a romance that is 'sci-fi', there are no overly tech-y elements, so Silent Blade will still appeal to fans of Andrews' Edge and Kate Daniel series.

Hot off the press e-short Silver Shark (Kinsmen Series) by Ilona Andrews is set in the same world as the husband and wife author duo's Silent Blade. THot off the press e-short Silver Shark (Kinsmen Series) by Ilona Andrews is set in the same world as the husband and wife author duo's Silent Blade. The seemingly oddly named Silver Shark is a rare beast, scifi romance but it's not so techy that it won't appeal to romance readers (especially paranormal romance and urban fantasy romance readers like me - after all we are accustomed to leads with psychic powers.)

I really loved Silver Shark, the heroine is a refugee and former psychic warrior who must hide her powers or risk deportation and death. Hiding her abilities becomes more difficult when it is necessary to get a job in a company full of psychics. Though she is 'supposed' to be psychicly null, as far as her gorgeous employer knows, her true background gives her and edge and I love a smart capable heroine.

I also really liked her awakening, the war torn world she's escaped from is utilitarian and gray and her new home world is bright and vibrant, and her employer is a glowing golden god compared to the pale emotionally contained people she's lived around, so seeing her world become more full of taste and color - especially the change in her interpretation of the mental landscape when she takes on a psychic mission to aid fellow refugee's child - was really enjoyable.

Even though, like other reviewers, I too would have loved more of the starring pair and would have loved to have actually 'seen' the final psychic battle - I am greedy after all - being a short story enthusiast, I wasn't unhappy with the quick wrap up - it got the job done and I didn't mind leaving a bit to my imagination.

So, another winning offering from the Andrews duo - add fan girl gushing here - I hope to see more from this series.

As a fan of Singh's Guild Hunters I am ashamed to admit that I was not looking forward to Archangel's Blade. Raphael's Second, vampire Dmitri, with hiAs a fan of Singh's Guild Hunters I am ashamed to admit that I was not looking forward to Archangel's Blade. Raphael's Second, vampire Dmitri, with his taste for pain and the way that he has wielded his deadly sensuality as a weapon in previous books, was just too cruel for me to imagine as a leading man, so I did not expect to like his story. However, the first third of Archangel's Blade was so captivating that even though I still wasn't sold on Dmitri, I found myself turning the pages as Singh weaves Dmitri's history and the pain he has carried with him for a thousand years into the two hunts that make up the background story. After that point, Singh begins the subtle shift that manages to turn the monster into a hero, still cruel and violent - because that is necessary when dealing with wayward immortals - but a hero still to his heroine, and to those who have earned his trust and protection.

As much as I was surprised by how much I liked Archangel's Blade, and Dmitri himself once we get an idea of 'who' he really is, I was almost as surprised by Dmitri's heroine Honor. Honor, the Guild Hunter who had been held captive as a blood toy and continuously and violently violated by vampires during her imprisonment, starts out so broken and withdrawn that she is barely functional. It is rare that an abused heroine's return to life and sensuality is handled well in romances, but somehow Singh manages it - and she does it without the repetitive torture filled flashbacks that were a bit distracting with Elena. I think that the reason it works so well here is that Singh doesn't hurry Honor through her recovery - there are breakthroughs, and relapses, and defining moments until finally Honor ends up even 'more' than the person that she was before. And I really liked that somehow, as Honor – with Dmitri's help - tracks down her abusers and slowly regains herself, Honor also gains a power over Dmitri in that she truly 'sees' him for the loyal protector he no longer believes himself to be. For me this re-balancing of power was crucial in allowing me to believe in a happily ever after for the pair.

Like the other Guild Hunter books, Angel's Blade is dark, and has the graphic aftermath of extreme violence but in the end it is an excellent entry to the series and makes me glad that Singh has decided to give us more insight into the Seven. As much as I love Elena and Raphael, I don't mind them moving to supporting roles in order to get more of the Cadre's back stories, and it's exciting to see the foundation being laid for future books....more

(4.5stars) What could be better than an alpha wolf hero? An alpha wolf hero in a kilt - and, even though this is a contemporary, we get multiple hunky(4.5stars) What could be better than an alpha wolf hero? An alpha wolf hero in a kilt - and, even though this is a contemporary, we get multiple hunky 'weres' in kilts. Yum.

I am a shifter fan so I've read all of Spear's werewolf romances, but Heart of the Highland Wolf is my absolute favorite. I like the way that Spear cleverly sets the romance amid a historical movie being filmed at a Scottish castle, so that there are some historical elements mixed in with the contemporary.

A good part of what made the story for me though, is that all of the characters in Heart of the Highland Wolf are wonderful. I really loved the romantic-at-heart Julia, she's an author who is a werewolf and she writes werewolf romances. Throughout the story Julia takes inspiration from what is going on around her and writes these romantic sexy scenes in her head. And the way that Julia's musings weave into the action make the book that much more romantic and sexy. Her reluctant hero Ian is good too, he tries to use his head but finds himself breaking his own rules since Julia 'gets' to him at a primal level. I also liked Julia's fiery friend Maria who is also a wolf and I hope to see more of her. But of course I can't forget Ian's brothers - he's a quad. In Duncan, Guthrie and Cearnach, author Spear manages three completely different personalities, all of them appealing and I want their books now.

There is really just no way to write a review that does Magic Slays justice without being spoilerish because, while the writing, the plot and the charThere is really just no way to write a review that does Magic Slays justice without being spoilerish because, while the writing, the plot and the characters make the story really good, it is all of the little things that make it great. So without giving too much away, here are a just few of the things that made Magic Slays the newest addition to my very small keeper shelf ...

I loved the humor, especially Kate's banter with several of her cohorts and 'his furriness' - I had forgotten how snarkily funny this series is.

I loved seeing Kate and Curran together, their relationship will never be a smooth one with such dominant personalities but that is exactly what has the potential for keeping their relationship as interesting in the future as it is now - and there was one spot in the story in particular that was so surprisingly sweet that it had my inner romance reader sighing.

I loved the emotional roller coaster of the story and the gamut of emotions for Kate and me both - including some very nervous moments along the way since there are no guaranteed happy endings or ever afters in urban fantasy.

But most of all I loved Kate, through the series she has been great and here it was so very satisfying to have a heroine who was both powerful and smart - so not only did she rock in the action department, but she managed to hold her own - and actually kick butt - using her smarts instead of her sword in a confrontation of a different kind with the pack as well.

So a big gushing fan girl thumbs up for Magic Slays. I am always afraid that books I anticipate as much as this one will let me down, but no disappointment here on any front - I know it sounds cliche, but since Kate Daniel's world keeps on getting richer and the characters and relationships continue to develop, this series really does keep getting better with every book. And the last few lines of the ending to Magic Slays - Wow, game on - have me totally amped up for the next trip to Kate's magical Atlanta.

When Nightkeeper Dez Mendez goes off grid, PI Reese Montana is hired to track Dez down - Dez's presence for the next cardinal day battle is key to theWhen Nightkeeper Dez Mendez goes off grid, PI Reese Montana is hired to track Dez down - Dez's presence for the next cardinal day battle is key to the Nightkeepers' success in staving off doomsday. When Reese catches up with Dez, he manages to convince her to hold off on turning him in, and while Reese agrees to help Dez search for artifacts he claims will aid the Nightkeepers in the upcoming conflict, Reese suspects that Dez may just be pursuing his own agenda.

The pairing of former convict/gang leader Dez and former bounty hunter Reese is a great one. Both of the leads share a connection and a history and the bad boy hero Dez keeps Reese guessing whether he'll finally 'go good', but makes sure to put any doubt Reese has to rest when it comes to just how much he still wants her. I also really liked the fact that in a series about prophecies, it is still possible for the leads make their own destiny.

Icing on the romance is that Storm Kissed brings about some surprising changes for the Nightkeepers gang. I liked the pairing and the twist so much that Storm Kissed is now my favorite book in Andersen's Nightkeepers series of paranormal romances centered around a group of warrior mages trying to save the world from the Mayan end of days prophecy. It also helped that this time Andersen's extensive research and amazing world building (and recap for new fans) is woven far more subtly into the story than some the straight info dumps in earlier books.

While not too many of the supporting characters manage to make it very far out of the background - this really is Dez and Reeses' story - it still was fun to see them even at a distance. (And in case, like me, you were wondering, Andersen did bring JT and Natalia from "Crystal Skull" in On the Hunt to Skywatch but if you blink you might miss them.) Standing out from the pack is Sven, who obviously will be sharing the lead in the next book, Magic Unleashed in Jan 2012, with Cara who is being pulled back into the Nightkeeper fold after fleeing her winikin heritage. Can't wait. And the end is nigh - at least for the series, hopefully not for the world - with Anna's book coming September 2012 and Rabbits' in October 2012....more

I am such a fan girl when it comes to Laurenston's Pride (Pack and her Dragons too), her combination of humor and heat and deadly females is completelI am such a fan girl when it comes to Laurenston's Pride (Pack and her Dragons too), her combination of humor and heat and deadly females is completely unique in the crowded paranormal romance genre. And speaking of deadly females, they don't come deadlier than heroine Dee-Ann and in fact she's been so hard core in her appearances in previous books in the series that I just couldn't imagine how Laurenston was going to pull off a romance with Dee as leading lady. But I should have never questioned Laurenston's skills, because she totally pulled it off and Big Bad Beast is a real winner.

There was so much that I loved about this book: I loved the hero, the wily Ric (Ulrich) and the way he carefully reels Dee in - after years of wanting no one but her. I loved the way that this seemingly mismatched pair ended up being so right for each other, and I loved that lots of past characters get decent cameos (which is really a wonderful gift for us devoted fans.)

So a big thumbs up from me and I don't know how I am going to wait for my next fix - I may have to *gasp* reread(!) the earlier books in the series....more

I'd forgotten how much I love this series (once you get past all the confusing 't' terms: Talyan,Teshuva .... good thing there is a glossary) I like tI'd forgotten how much I love this series (once you get past all the confusing 't' terms: Talyan,Teshuva .... good thing there is a glossary) I like the possessed warriors with the damaged souls who find a mate to fill in the holes. This time the pairing is a crippled former missionary, Jonah, and Nim, the stripper with her own scars. And I was surprised that even though the heroine strikes out on her own to face danger and certain death on several occassions, she did it without coming across as 'too stupid to live'.

Sometimes when I really like a book it is hard to articulate why, this time I think the reason is that it is all the details, and the depth of the characterization for the heroine Nim that made the story so good, but hard to talk about. Surprisingly, as a stripper Nim is already a warrior, she uses her body and sensuality - ala Eve and complete with snake - as a weapon against men. I like that in this series the females are warriors too. And a scene or two here show that all the women (Nim and the past heroines) are indeed a force to be reckoned with - an almost apocalytic one, without their mates to temper their combined power.

So now I can't wait for the next one, By Darkness Undone, though I am a bit disappointed that Ecco isn't getting his story yet and Slade is bringing in a new pair for the next books. What I'd really like to see in the future though is a demon possessed warrior women with the angel Cyril Fane - he's a contradicting mess of stick-up-the-behind with a hidden sense of humor and a hot car. Since this series builds on the characters from previous stories, I think it might be better for readers new to the series to start with the first book Forged of Shadows: A Novel of the Marked Souls. ...more

When the Hoax Busters is canceled, its star and creator Kristin Daniels is determined to turn things around and figures debunking the biggest most famWhen the Hoax Busters is canceled, its star and creator Kristin Daniels is determined to turn things around and figures debunking the biggest most famous of hoaxes in the world is just the thing to get her TV show back on the air. So Kristin sets off to Scotland to take on Nessie. In the small town on the famous Loch, she meets a gorgeous mysterious stranger Liam, and stumbles onto evidence of a serial killer - or maybe Nessie's taken a turn to the dark side . Either way, it's not long before our professional skeptic is starting to suspect that maybe this time the truth behind the 'hoax' doesn't involve either tricks or science, but she just may take that secret to the grave --since the killer has Kristin in his (or her) sights.

I loved Moon Cursed. I loved the tormented Liam and the chemistry between Liam and Kristin, who has her own sad past as well. I loved the glimpses of Scotland and bits of myth author Handeland brings to the story - this has always been a trademark of her Nightcreatures books - and I enjoyed knowing that was going to be some real woo woo stuff without knowing whether supernatural element was going to be evil like Handeland's earlier werewolves or something else entirely. Fans of Handeland's earlier books will appreciate an appearance by Edward and a tie-in to the Jager-Suchers, but the story still stands on its own even for those who haven't read any others in the series.

The best part of Moon Cursed though is that the story and the setting give this paranormal romance a really fresh feel. I hope Handeland doesn't stop here - I'd love to see another story set in an exotic locale and there's a whole world of myths just waiting to be explored. ...more

Oh come on, a naked werewolf? How could I resist? Despite the embarrassment of having to ask the guy at the bookstore to help me find a copy, I just hOh come on, a naked werewolf? How could I resist? Despite the embarrassment of having to ask the guy at the bookstore to help me find a copy, I just had to read this latest series starter from 'Nice Girls' author Molly Harper. It was well worth the blushes (his and mine) because Harper delivers a cute, chuckle-filled adventure as Southerner and former hippies' child Mo relocates to a small remote Alaskan town to 'find herself' and I even though I've read a lot of great stuff this year How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf is one of my favorites.

Even though naked werewolves are mentioned in the first sentence, Harper makes us anticipate said event for a good long time before she actually delivers on the the werewolf booty. The surly wolf in flannel and blue jeans is only one of the residents of Grundy AK who take notice when Mo joins their small (mostly male) community. And though there are romance elements and some steamy stuff, it is really Mo's blossoming and finding her place in Grundy, and forming friendships along with her sassy dialog and musings which form the bulk of the story. She has a great 'voice' which is the make or break in a first person story. Mo is strong and stubborn without being either kick butt or too stupid to live - which means she's more than capable of holding her own – for the most part - against an alpha male and his furry kin.

So a rare five stars from me for pure enjoyment and I am looking forward to Harper's next offering and lamenting that my copy of the book didn't have the preview of The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf promised on the back cover *sniff*...more